lindgren



NOV. 2], 1944. LINDGREN Re. 2?,563

KEEP-CUTTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 26L 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1ATTORN EY Nov. 21, 1944. F. A. LINDGREN Re. 22,563

KERF-CUTTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 26, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNEY MRQ I v NOV. 21, UNDGREN 1 Re. 22,563 Y KERF-cUT'rINg MACHINEOriginal Filed Aug. 26, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet a ATTQRNEY Nov. 21, 1944. F.A. LINDG REN KERF-CUTTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Aug;26, 1940 0 7 a m 2/3 06 N m m 1 Z A j Mm fi m a f M a F. A. LINDGREN Re.22,563 KEEP-CUTTING MACHINE Original Filed Alig. 26, 1940 '5Sheets-Sheet 5 Reissued Nov. 21, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT KERF-CUTTINGMACHINE rrank A. Lindgren,'La Grangej'IlL, assignorto GoodmanManufacturing Company, Chicago, "Ill.,"a; corporation of IllinoisOriginal No. 2,298,392, dated October '13, 1942,

ScrialNo. 354,180, August 2 6, 1940. Application for reissue September18, 1944,-Serial-No.

:12 Glaii'ns.

This invention relatesto improvements inkerfand elevating them fordischarge into .a .con-

veyer or other receptacle.

A further object of my inventionis toprcvide a compact and simplifiedform of drive gearing for the feed drums and cutter chain drivesprocket, together with a novel form .of drive connection-to the slackeonveyers so that each will be driven in the proper direction duringeither direction of cutting.

Other objectsof my invention will .appear from time to time as thedescription proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawingswherein:

Figure 1 is. atopplan viewofa mining machine constructed in accordancewith my invention;

Figure 2 isa view in side elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1,showing the cutter bar in a coalseam;

Figure 3 is anenlarged fragmentary plan view of the machine shown inFigure .1, with one of thegear covers removedland withcertain partsbroken away and-certain other parts shown in horizontal sectionin orderto more clearly illustrate certain details .of the invention;

vFigure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the. machine,drawn to-subs'tantially the same scale as Figure-3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially,

along .line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a rear end view of the machine, with certain .parts shown insection;

Figure '7 is a view in side elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1,with certain parts broken away in order to show certain details of theslack conveyer; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the forward partof themachine, with certain parts .removed and broken away and certain otherparts shown in section, in order to illustrate certain details in thearrangement of the drive connection to the operative parts of themachine from the lower end of the motor shaft.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the embodiment of myinvention illustrated therein includes=generally a'mai'n-framel'flhaving (a motor H "mounted at the forward end thereof. Said motor is:provided with a'm'ot'or shaft l2 arranged for rotation about a verticalaxis, and a cutter" bar 13' mounted on said frame in planes beneath saidmot'onproje'cts'forwardly therefrom. Said cutter bar has. a cutter chainI4 guided 'for movement thereabout, which is drivenfrom a s rocket It ontheicwerend era vertical shaft I1, disposed-adjacentthe rear end of themachine.

'The machine is-moved'abo it the "mine 'o'nfits bottom and is sumpedintoand moved a'crcssthe coal face by means of a 'plu'rality of windingdrums T9, T9 having flexible cables, 20 wound thereon and "adapted to beextended "therefrom and attached to fixed abutments' remote from themachine. "Each of said winding drums is adapted to be independentlydriven from "the motor II at either a high or low rrictionauy controlledspeed through a separate planetary l8. Abrake band 2f contrdiledby'ah'an'd crank 22, in .the usual manner, is provided for teach (it saidwindingdru'ms to retardthe rotation of the respective drum whendisconnected from the motor I I, so said drum may serve as a tail ropedrum for the machine.

Referring now in particular to' the novel and compact form of driveconnection to the cutter chain drive sprocket f6, and to the windingdrums [9,1 9, an armature pinion 2'3 is mounted on the lower end of themotor shaft "l2,wi-thfin theinnerIateralboundaries o'f -the ciitte'rchain [4. Saidarmature'pin-ion meshes with an idler gear-T4 which mesheswith and drives a spur gear25 on the lower end of a vertical sha'ft it.Said idler gear and spur-gear are likewise disposed within the innerlateral boundaries of the cutter chain, and are recessed-beneath the topof said chain and are-"housd-in a frame portion 21 of the main framel'll, the outer lateral sides of whichform a'bearing'member along'whichthe cutter chain ['4' rides. 'lZh'is arrangement enables the compactnessof the inachinefto be maintained, reducing the overalbhe'i'ght and widththereof, and permit said gears disposed within the inneriateral'bdllfidaties 6fthe path (if travel of the cutter chain to be complete-1y housed and I'free'friiin dirt. A worm 29, mounted on the verticalshaft 26" intermediate theends thereof; meshes with afid drivesa wormgear in ona transversely extendin shaft 31. Said shaft is .jouriialed"within the hiibs' 3'3, 33 of casings 3 Lp'f the planetary gearedreductiondev ic'es 18', IB and' ha's' spur fpiiiion's 36, '36

flanged portion 35 of the casing 34.

mounted on opposite ends thereof, which serve as sun gears for drivingsaid planetaries (see Figure 5).

The planetaries l8, l8, as herein shown, are

each of a similar construction which is well known to those skilled inthe art, so will only be shown and described insofar as is necessary tomake my present invention readily understandable. with planetary pinions31, 31 mounted in a cage 38. Said planetary pinions mesh with aninternal gear 39 secured to the inner periphery of a Planetary pinions46, 40 are mounted coaxially with the planetary pinions 31, 31 androtate therewith and mesh with an internal gear 4| on a spider 42 keyedon a transverse shaft 45, for driving said shaft. A casing 43 isdisposed adjacent the casing 34, and with said casing encloses saidspider and the planetary gearing. Said casing has the,

cage 38 secured thereto. A friction band 44 engages the flanged portion'35 of the casing 34 to hold it and the internal gear 38 from rotation.Another friction band 46 engages the casing 43, to hold said casing andthe cage 38 from rotation.

When the casing 34 and internal gear 39 are held from rotation by thefriction band 44, the shaft 45 will be driven through the sun gear 36,planetary pinions 31, 31 orbitally moving about said internal gear, andplanetary pinions 40, 48 meshing with and driving the internal gear 4|at a relatively slow speed.

When the friction band 46 engages the outer periphery of the casing 43,the cage 38 will be held from rotation. The shaft 45 will thus be drivenby the sun ,gear 36, meshing with the planetary pinions 31, 31 anddriving said pinions and the coaxial planetary pinions 4U, 40, whichlastmentioned planetary'pinions mesh with and drive the internal gear 4| ata relatively high rate of speed.

A pinion 49 on the outer end of each transverse shaft'45 meshes'with aninternal gear 50, freely mounted on a stub shaft 5| (see Figure 3). Eachfeed drum I9 is freely mounted on a hub of one of said internal gearsand, as herein shown, is operatively connected with said internal gearby means of a pin 52 registering for engagement with suitable aperturesformed in said feed drum' and internal gear, respectively. Said pin andapertures thus form a means to disconnect'said feed drum from itsinternal gear to permit free paying off of its associated feedingmember, when desired. Each stub shaft 5| is mounted in a bearing boss54, herein shown as being formed integrally with an outer cover 55 for aslack conveyer 56, one of which slack conveyers extends along each sideof said cutter bar and is mounted within the lateral boundaries of theframe for the mining machine. Said slack conveyer will be more fullydescribed as this specification proceeds. The shafts 45, 45 extendbetween the upper and lower runs of the slack conveyers, and saidbearing bosses extend within the boundaries of said slack conveyers, inorder to permit the width and height of the machine to be reduced.

The drive to the cutter chain drive sprocket |6 includes a. spur pinion51, mounted on the upper end'of the vertical shaft 26 and meshing withan idler gear 58 (see Figures 3 and 4). Said idler gear meshes with anddrives a spur ringgear 58, provided with a lower flanged portion 60which is secured to an upper flange 6| ofa driving sleeve 62. Saiddriving sleeve is journaled on the" ver- The sun gear 36 of eachplanetary meshes tical shaft H, for free rotation with respect thereto,and has a clutch member 64, with depending jaws 65, slidably mountedthereon. Said jaws are adapted to be engaged with jaws E6 of a clutchmember 61, secured to thevertical shaft l1, for driving said shaft. Asuitable clutch yoke 68, mounted on a rock shaft 69, is provided forshifting said clutch member, to selectively C011? nect said cutter chainsprocket with said ring gear. The system of levers for, shifting saidclutch member is not herein shown or described in detail since it is nopart of my present inven tion and is well known to those skilled in theart.

Referring now to the novel form and arrangement of the cuttingscollecting conveyers 55, 56, said conveyers are recessed within thesides of the machine frame and extend along oppositev sides of themachine in parallel relation with respect to the cutter bar I3 justoutside of the path of the bits of the cutterchain l4. Each of saidslack conveyers is. provided with a receiving end 10 open to the frontof the machine and disposed adjacent the coal face when the cutter baris fully sumped in the coal and is cutting across the coal face, andopening towards the coal face, to collect the slack withdrawn from thecoal face by the cutter chain I4. One of said slack'conveyers is adaptedto be utilized when the machine is cutting in one direction and theother of said slack conveyers is adapted to be utilized when the machineis cutting in an opposite direction,

construction so the construction of one only will herein be described indetail.

As herein shown, the slack conveyer 56 includes an endless chain 1|having spaced apart flights 11, 11 projecting outwardly therefrom. Saidchain is trained about an idler sprocket 12 mounted on a transverseshaft 13, disposed adjacent the entering end 10 of the conveyer. Fromsaid idler sprocket'said chain extends in an upwardly inclined directionto, a drive sprocket 14 on a. transverse shaft 15. From thence saidchain extends in'a forwardly direction over a bearing shoe 16, to andaround the idler sprocket 12. The flights 11 are adapted to movematerial along a bottom 19 of a casing for the conveyer (see Figure 7)Said casing is herein shown'as being formed integral with the main frameI0 and is provided with a discharge end disposed above the ground andadjacent the rear of the machine, to discharge cuttings into a conveyer8| which may extend along the coal face in parallel relation withrespect thereto (see Figure 4). An opening 18 extending along the cutterbar, above the bottom plate 18, is provided on the inner side of saidcasing to permit the collection of the cuttings thrown laterally by thecutter chain as it passes by said opening (see Figures 3 and '1).

The drive to the conveyers 56, 56 is arranged to selectively drive saidconveyers at a greater speed than the speed of the cutter chain andincludes a chain and sprocket drive 82 which drives a bevel gear 83 on avertical stub shaft 'i'Ihe drive :armngementnto thes'shafts "15, Girlsthus such that each: of said. sinaftsv and thereonveyers 56, :56 adriven thereby, will :be fdr'rven opposite" 'directionsvwhile the. motorI l is rotating in one: direction. 'Ihe 'reaamitor-sosarranging this:drive: a to insure :that'; each cmiveyer will zzbe driven in the :properz direction when cutting 'either 'fromfirightito left or from left toright. When-cutting from :right toleft, the slack conveyor on -the 1left-handrsidexofl the machine will be in *op'eration' to: collect-thecuttings *andw'ill be connected tozthe motor H, to

- be driven in a direction move material up- -ward'ly along I the bottom19 'of- *the 1 casing -86. When cutting from; left to right, thedirection :of rotation-pf the motor II must :be"roversed*in order todrive 1 the cutter chain H in the :proper cutting'direction; Uponreversal of said motor, the 1 slack 'conveyer on the right -hand 1 sideof -the "machine will be drivenin -'-a direction to move materialupwardly along 1 the i bottom 1-9 of the casing' 80, sc -said slackconveyer-will collect and discharge the cuttings 'duringthis directionof "cutting.

It may be seen from the foregoing that a new and improved form of'mining maohine hasbeen said conveyors-will collect these cuttings andconvey them away -'fromthe ma'c'hinein either direction of cutting. thatthe machine is efiiciently 'constructed'for It "may further be seencuttingin-reverse-directions with the conveyer recessed within and apart of the machine frameproper, enabling the low overalbheight; widthand length of "the machine necessary for ready maneuverability andoperation in confined spaces," to "be attained.

VVh'ile I haveherein "shown and described one form in-which myinvention-maybe embodied,

"it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement'of the various parts may be altered "without departing from the'spiritand scope thereof. F'urthern'iore, "I do- "not wish to 'be construed aslimiting my invention to the specific embodiment illustrated,-excepting" as it may be limited in the appendedclaims.

I claim as .my invention:

lpln'aminingmachine of the type slidable along the mine bottom on itsbottom during cutting, a main frame, a cutter bar projecting forwardlyfrom said main frame and having a cutter chain movable thereabout in anorbital path, and cuttings collecting means extending along the advanceside of said machine from the lower forward end thereof including aconveyer extending along and recessed within the advance side of saidmachine and having a rereceiving end disposed adjacent said cutter chainand opening to the forward end of said machine and having a dischargeend adjacent the upper rear end of said machine.

2. In a mining machine, a main frame, a motor, a cutter bar projectingfrom said frame and having a cutter chain movable thereabout in planesdisposed beneath said motor, and a cuttings collecting conveyerextending along the advance side of said main frame to one side of saidcutter bar and having a receiving end opensing to rthe {forward rendcf-said imcchine ,and alongside 'Df :said :cuttercchain, "for:collectinstthe cuttings :cut by said cutter chain, and 12a :"dischargeend at: thenpper rearrend ;of--said main framefor:dischargingthe'acuttingsrto the; rearnof :saidmaimframe. 3.,Jn amining imachine, a mainfiiazne, =:a :"motor, a. .cutter.;bar projecting;from:;:said frame and having a mutter chain rmcvable' :thereabout l0aepath extendingibeneath said rmotorsandzan upwardly ginclined cuttingscollecting :conveyer extending along thezadvance :side of saidvmainrframevfnomithelowerforward end :thereof aopeningrto the forwardendthereof adjacent-said 15 r-cutter .chain, *for :collecting the cuttingsdis- -charged L by said xcutter chain and :dischargmg them to the rearof-rsaid mainframe.

.4. :I-n a ;mining machine. of the "type .slidable along the mine:bottom ontits ibottomz-iduring cutting, a main 'frame, a cutter 2 bar-:prodecting forwardly from said main frame da-ind having' za --cutterchain movable. 'th'ereabout i in :an orbital 1 path, Steed mechanism.fonsai'd machine: incltiding a 1' teed-drum disposed :at 'one side ofitihe -machine and a iiexib-le draft .idevice adapted to the woundthereon, and-a cuttings collecting 7 means extending along the advanceside iofthe imachine and disposed'within the lateral bound :aries ofsaid feed drum, said cuttings collecting wau'means including aconveyerdisposed "adjacent saidcutter chai-n and openingalongside ofsald mutter-chain and to the forward en'd cftthe machine. 1

5. In a mining 'machine ofthe type sli dable along amine bottom'on itsbottomdu'ring cutting,

amain frame; a cutter bar projecting-i forwardly from said main frameand having-a cutter chain -movable thereabout' =in an orbital pathflteed*mechanismfor said machine including a fel'z'd ilo-drum disposed at oneside of the IHdChiflG-filid'jfl "flexible draft device adapted to bewoundthereon, and a cuttings collecting means extending alongthe-advance sideof the machine and disposed within the lateralboundaries of saidfeed-drum, said cuttings collecting means including'an'in- 'clined bottom portion disposed within the lateral 1 boundaries ,Ofsaidwinding drum and *extending in an upwardly inclined direction-from;the-forward" to the rear end of said-main'rrame-and conveying means forcollecting and moving-mate- 'rial discharged fromsaid cutter'chainupwardly along said inclined bottom.

a mining machine of the type-*sli'dable along a mine bottom on itsbottom during cutting, a'main' frame, a cutter-bar projecting forwardlyfrom said main frame and having a cutter chain movable thereabout in anorbital path, feed mechanism for said machine including a feed drumdisposed at one side of the machine and a flexible draft device adaptedto be wound thereon, and a cuttings collecting means extending along theadvance side of the machine and disposed within the lateral boundariesof said feed drum, said cuttings collecting means including an inclinedbottom portion disposed within the lateral boundaries or said windingdrum and extending in an upwardly inclined direction from the forwardend of said main frame, and a conveyer for moving material upwardlyalong said bottom including an endless chain, a drive sprocket thereforrotatable about a horizontal axis, and spaced apart flights projectingoutwardly from said chain, said cuttings collecting means being open tothe forward end of the machine and along said cutter chain.

7. In a reversible mining machine of. the type slidable along a minebottom on its bottom during cutting, a main frame, a motor, a cutter bar"projecting forwardly of said main frame and motor and having a cutterchain movable thereabout in an orbital path, feed drums disposed atopposite sides of the machine and adapted to have flexible draft deviceswound thereon, and cuttings collecting means extending along oppositesides of the machine and disposed Within the lateral boundaries of saidfeed drums including ;conveyers extending along said cutter chain fromthe forward end of saidmain frame and opening Lalong opposite sides ofsaid cutter chain and to the forward end of the machine, for collectingthe cuttings discharged by said cutter chain during opposite directionsof cutting.

8. In a reversible mining machine of the type slidable along a minebottom on its bottom during cutting, a main frame, a motor, a cutter barprojecting forwardly of said main frame and motor and having a cutterchain movable thereabout in an orbital path, feed drums disposed atopposite sides of the machine and adapted to have flexible draft deviceswound thereon, and

cuttings collectin means extending along oppositesides of the machineand disposed within the lateral boundaries of said feed drums includingconveyers opening along opposite sides of said cutter chain and to theforward end of the machine, for collecting the cuttings discharged bysaid cutter chain during opposite directions of cutting, and driveconnections from said motor for selectively driving eitherof saidconveyers in directions so the conveyer on the advance side ofthemachine will always be driven in a conveying direction during cuttingin one direction and the conveyer on the side of the machine which isthe advance-side in theopposite direction of cutting will be driven in aconveying direction upon re-,;, versal of said motor, for cutting in anopposite direction. l I

9. In a mining machine of the class described, a main frame, a motordisposed at the forward end of saidmain frameand having a verticalarmatureshaft, a cutter bar projecting forwardly from said main frameand motor and disposed in planes extending beneath said motor, a cutterchain drive sprocket disposed rearwardly of said motor, anddriveconnections from said motor to said cutter chain drive sprocketincluding an armature pinion and spur gear disposed within the orbit ofsaid cutter chain and within the vertical limits of said cutter chain. I

10. In a mining machine of the class described,

a mainframe, a motor disposed at the forward end of said main frameandhaving a vertical armature shaft,'a cutter :bar projecting forwardlyfrom-saidmain frame and motor and disposed in planes extending beneathsaid motor, a cutter chain drive sprocket disposed rearwardly of saidmotor, drive connections from said motor to said xcutter chaindrivesprocket including an armature pinion .and spur gear disposedwithin the .orbit of said cutter chain and within the vertical limits ofsaid cutter chain, and means for enclosing said spur gear and pinion andserving as a guide means for the cutter chain.

11. Ina mining machine of the class described, a main frame, a motordisposed at the forward end of said main frame and'having a verticalarmature shaft, a cutter bar projecting forwardly from said main frameand motor and disposed in planes extending beneath said motor, a cutterchain drive sprocket disposed rearwardly of said motor, a pair of feeddrums disposed at opposite "sides of said main frame and mounted forrotationabout transverse axes, drive connections from said'motor to saidcutter chain drive sprocket and feed drums including. an armature pinionand spur gear disposed within the orbit of said cutter chain and withinthe vertical limits of said cutter chain, and means for enclosing saidspur gear and armature pinion and serving as a guide shoe for saidcutter chain.

12. In a mining machine of the class described.

a'main frame, a motor disposed at the forward end of said main frame andhaving a vertical armature shaft, a cutter bar projecting forwardly fromsaid main frame and motor and disposed in planes extending beneath saidmotor, a cutter chain drive sprocket disposed rearwardly of said motor,a pair of feed-drums disposed at opposite sides of said main frame andmounted for rotation about transverse axes, and cuttings collectingmeans extending along opposite sides of the machine and disposed withinthe lateral boundaries of said feed drums and including conveyersopening along opposite sides of said cutter chain and to'the forward endof the machine, for collecting the cuttings discharged by said cutterchain during opposite directions of cutting, drive connectionsfrom saidmotor to said cutter chain sprocket, feed drums and conveyers, forindependently driving said cutter chain sprocket, feed drums andconveyers including an armature pinion and spur gear disposed within thepath of said cutter chain.

FRANK A. LINDGREN.

